Pinellas County Sheriff's Office detectives assigned to the Crimes Against Children Unit have arrested a man after he took sexually explicit photographs of a girl under 12 years old and illegally possessed firearms.
James Rybicki, 60, of Seminole was arrested Tuesday, transported to the Pinellas County Jail without incident and charged with one count of Promoting a Sexual Performance by a Child, one count of Possession of Child Pornography, two counts of Felon in Possession of Firearm, and one count of Felon in Possession of Ammunition.
According to detectives, their investigation began in August 2016 when they received a complaint that Rybicki approached a different 10-year-old girl and tried convincing her to model bathing suits so he could take pictures of her. Afterwards, Rybicki told the girl to keep the conversation a secret.
Detectives say that through the course of their investigation, they identified two additional girls Rybicki tried to convince into posing for pictures in bathing suits. The girls ranged in ages from 10 to 16 years old.
Another girl, who was approximately 10 years old at the time, reported she actually went with Rybicki to his residence on Dominica Drive alone, and allowed Rybicki to take inappropriate photographs of her in bikini style bathing suits. Afterwards, Rybicki told the victim to keep the incident a secret.
After detectives investigated Rybicki's background, they discovered that he was convicted in 2001 for Lewd and Lascivious Conduct, for taking sexually inappropriate photographs of a young girl.
Upon further investigation, detectives recovered a sexually explicit photograph from one of Rybicki's devices that he took of the victim at his residence, approximately two years prior. Detectives also recovered two handguns and ammunition from Rybicki's residence.
According to detectives, Rybicki was known to all of the girls in this investigation.
Detectives say it's possible there are more victims in this case. Anyone who believes their child may have been a victim or has information regarding this case is asked to contact Detective Alvarez of the Crimes Against Children Unit at (727) 582-6200.
